Garment



R. M. GRAVES Dec. 4, 1934.

GARMENT I Filed July 16, 1934 Patented Dec. 4, 1934 PATENT OFFICE f GARMENT Rose M. Graves, Chicago, Ill., assignorto Venus Brassiere Co. Inc., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application July 16, 1934, Serial No. 735,307

3 Claims.

This invention which has to do generally with a foundation garment for women is concerned particularly with the provision of a removable panelin the upper back portion thereof, so that the garment will serve for ordinary use, and also for formal wear.

The invention is further concerned with the manner in which the panel is attached to the garment so as to give the greatest comfort to the wearer, and the maximum strength at the point of attachment. The present garment is further designed to give the maximum of utility without impairing its attractiveness.

An exemplification of this invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view showing particularly the back of the garment wherein the panel is attached in place;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 1, showing the panel removed from the garment;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the inner side of the panel shown as partially attached to the garment; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional detail taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

The illustrated garment comprises front and back sections 10 and 11, respectively, each of which may be of double thickness, the inner thickness of the back section being shown at 12 in Fig. 3. The front and back sections may be joined by elastic sections 13 and 14 to complete the garment. Two of the sections, herein shown as the sections 10 and 13, may be joined, at least in part, by a releasable fastener 15 of the slip type, or in any other approved way, as for example by hooks and eyes.

Secured to the upper edges of the front and side sections is a piece of lace or similar material 16 forming the brassiere portion of the garment. In order that formal or low cut gowns may be worn, the present garment is cut out at 1'7 in the back section, leaving upstanding marginal strips 18 on each side of the upperportion of the back i section 11. The edge of the cut-out may be suitably bound and finished, as by a tape 19.

The marginal strips serve a four-fold purpose. First, they define the opening 17; second, they provide means for fastening the shoulder straps 20 to the back of the garment; third, they provide means to which the ends of the lace brassiere 16 are secured; and fourth, they provide a desirable place to attach the panel as will now be described.

Where the present garment is not used with low-cut dresses, the cut-out 17 may be closed by .a panel 25 made of lace or other material similar to thatused in thebrassire. By preference, the panel is substantially rectangular, its two ends being provided with fasteners, such, for example, as hooks 26 which are secured to the panel by a binding tape 27 which covers all of each hook except that portion which projects through the eye of the fastener. A button 28 which may be secured to the lower edge of the panel is adapted to receive a loop 29 which is securedto the inner thickness 12 of the back section.

Associated with the garment are eyes 30 adapted to receive the hooks 26 to hold the panel in place. The eyes are preferably secured to the marginal strip 18 by the use of a flap 31 which is folded upon itself to form a double thickness. A padding tape 32 is shown as stitched at 33 to the flap, the eyes being inserted between the flap and padding tape at suitable intervals. A facing strip 34 may be stitched to the flap at 35 and 36, and be further stitched to the edge of the marginal strip at 37.

In assembling the garment, the edge of the lace 16 is stitched at 38, together with a binding tape 39, to the outside edge of the marginal strip 18, and a second line of stitching 40 secures the flap 31, the facing tape 34, and the binding tape 39 to the marginal strip 18. By such a construction it will be noted that the flap '31 and the facing tape 34, to which the eyes 30 are anchored, are securely stitched at 40 and 38, respectively, to the marginal strip 18. The flap 31 is interposed between the metal eyes 30 and the marginal strip which is made of attractive material, such as satin, for example. The presence of the flap is a safeguard to prevent rust or corrosion from defacing the marginal strip 18. Furthermore, the flap is extended a sufiicient distance beyond the eyes so that when the hooks and eyes are engaged the point of the hook will not mark or wear through the marginal strip.

Similarly, the padding tape 32 which is interposed between the eye and the facing tape serves a like purpose, and in addition, provides a padding so that the eyes 30 will not be felt by the wearer.

Due to the great thickness of the panel 25 along the edge to which the hooks are joined, it is advantageous to anchor the eyes in the manner shown, i. e., by having 2. padding tape adjacent the eyes, and the facing tape placed on top 105 thereof so as to build up an edge adjacent the eyes. By such a construction the wearer is less annoyed on account of a bulky edge on the panel when worn, and is less annoyed by the exposed eyes when the panel is not worn.

the back, and protected releasable fastenings between opposite ends of the panel and the reinforced upstanding portions of the back section.

2. A foundation garment of the kind described having, in combination, a back section wherein is a cut-out proceeding downwardly from its upper edge, the portions of the back section upstanding adjacent opposite sides of the cut-out being reinforced, a brassiere portion topping the garment and extending therearound to join the upstandingreinforced portions of the back section, a panel of material similar to the brassiere portion formed to extend across the cut-out portion of the back and having a lowermost extension centrally of its lower edge, a releasable fastening between the lowermost bottom edge portion of the panel and the back section of the garment, and protected releasable fastenings between opposite ends of the panel and the reinforced upstanding portions of the back section. Y o 1 3. A foundation garment of the kind described having, in combination, a back section wherein is a cut-out proceeding downwardly from its upper edge, the portion of the back section upstanding adjacent opposite sides of the cut-out being reinforced longitudinally, a brassiere portion toppingthe garment and extending therearound to join the upstanding reinforced portions of the back section, shoulder straps extending from forward points of the garment to connect with the upper ends of the upstanding reinforced portions of the back section, a panel formed to extend across the cut-out portion of the back, and protected releasable fastenings between opposite ends of the panel and the reinforced upstanding portions of the back section.

ROSE M. GRAVES. 

